Scouting in Montana has a long history, from the 1910s to the present day, serving thousands of youth in programs that suit the environment in which they live.

Early history (1910-1950)

One of the first, if not the first,

Boy Scout A Scout (in some countries a Boy Scout, Girl Scout, or Pathfinder) is a child, usually 10–18 years of age, participating in the worldwide Scouting movement. Because of the large age and development span, many Scouting associations have split ...

troops in

Montana Montana () is a state in the Mountain West division of the Western United States. It is bordered by Idaho to the west, North Dakota and South Dakota to the east, Wyoming to the south, and the Canadian provinces of Alberta, British Columbi ...

was organized in

Butte __NOTOC__ In geomorphology, a butte () is an isolated hill with steep, often vertical sides and a small, relatively flat top; buttes are smaller landforms than mesas, plateaus, and tablelands. The word ''butte'' comes from a French word mea ...

. In February 1917 ''Troop 1'' in Butte held an event for the public which included music, as well as "exhibition drills, first aid work, and signalling, closing with the presentation of a play." Also in 1917, this same troop made the news because their activities inspired the creation of a new troop in nearby Centerville, "Twenty-two boys made the trip Divide and back">Divide,_Montana.html" ;"title=" hike from Butte to Divide, Montana">Divide and back which was filled with tests for the boys... En route one of the boys suffered from a strained back. A litter was built for him and he was carried to the destination. This was a test in first-aid work... Another hike will be held when the weather permits. The boys were forced to trudge through deep snow on their Washington birthday trip." By 1918, unofficial Wolf Cub packs appeared in Butte. In 1920, the Deer Lodge County Council">Cub Scout">Wolf Cub packs appeared in Butte. In 1920, the Deer Lodge County Council (#314) was formed, changing its name in 1924 to the Deer Lodge Area Council (#314). In 1926 the Deer Lodge Area Council changed its name to the Deer Lodge, Granite, and Powell Council (#314). In 1928, the Deer Lodge, Granite, and Powell Council merged into the Silver Bow Council (#313). In 1919, the Helena Council (#316) was formed, changing its name in 1925 to the Lewis and Clark Area Council (#316) and, changing its name again in 1931 to the Elkhorn Area Council (#316). The Elkhorn Area Council closed that same year. In 1922, the Helena Council (#317) was formed, changing its name in 1923 to the Glacier Park Area Council (#317). The Glacier Park Area Council closed in 1927. In 1920, the Park County Council (#319) was formed, changing its name in 1923 to the Park and Sweetgrass Counties Council (#319) and, changing its name again in 1924 to the Yellowstone Council (#319). The Yellowstone Council closed in 1926. In 1920, the Custer County Council (#321) was formed, changing its name in 1924 to the Powder River Area Council (#321) and, closing in 1926. In 1918, the Butte City Council (#313) was formed, changing its name in 1927 to the Silver Bow Council (#313). In 1944, Silver Bow changed its name to the Vigilante Council (#313). In 1915, the Great Falls Council (#315) was formed, changing its name in 1925 to the Great Falls Area Council (#315). In 1929, the Great Falls Area Council changed its name to the North Central Montana Council (#315). In 1922, the Lewiston Council (#318) was formed, changing its name in 1922 to the Central Montana Council (#318). The Central Montana Council closed in 1924. In 1928, the Yellowstone Valley Council (#318) was formed. In 1920, the Missoula Council (#320) was formed, changing its name in 1922 to the Missoula County Council (#320). In 1926 the Missoula County Council changed its name to the Western Montana Council (#320).

Recent history (1950-1990)

In 1973, the Vigilante Area, Western Montana, Yellowstone Valley and North Central Montana councils all merged to make the Montana Council (#315).

Boy Scouts of America in Montana today

There are two Boy Scouts of America (BSA) local councils in Montana. Most of Montana lies within the Montana Council, except for Daniels and

Sheridan Sheridan may refer to: People Surname *Sheridan (surname) *Philip Sheridan (1831–1888), U.S. Army general after whom the Sheridan tank is named *Richard Brinsley Sheridan (1751–1816), Irish playwright (''The Rivals''), poet and politician ...

counties, which are part of the Northern Lights Council.

Montana Council

The main council office is located in

Great Falls Great may refer to: Descriptions or measurements * Great, a relative measurement in physical space, see Size * Greatness, being divine, majestic, superior, majestic, or transcendent People * List of people known as "the Great" *Artel Great (born ...

. There are Field Service Offices in

Billings Billings is the largest city in the U.S. state of Montana, with a population of 117,116 as of the 2020 census. Located in the south-central portion of the state, it is the seat of Yellowstone County and the principal city of the Billings Metrop ...

Bozeman Bozeman is a city and the county seat of Gallatin County, Montana, United States. Located in southwest Montana, the 2020 census put Bozeman's population at 53,293, making it the fourth-largest city in Montana. It is the principal city of th ...

and Missoula.

History

The Montana Council formed in 1973 from the merger of four councils: the Vigilante Area Council, Western Montana Council, Yellowstone Valley Council and the North Central Montana Council.

Camps

The largest of its council camps is K-M Scout Ranch (pronounced K bar M), located north of Lewistown near the old mining town of Kendall. Camp Melita Island is a council camp located on Melita Island on

Flathead Lake Flathead Lake ( fla, člq̓etkʷ, label=Salish, kut, yawuʔnik̓ ʔa·kuq̓nuk) is a large natural lake in northwest Montana. The lake is a remnant of the ancient, massive glacial dammed lake, Lake Missoula of the era of the last interglacial. ...

. Melita Island was bought by Montana Council in 2005, but its Scouting history dates back to about 1945 when the island was leased from the Scottish Rite and used as a camp for three decades. The Council also offers a high adventure backpacking program at the Montana High Adventure Base (MOHAB) operated by the Boone and Crockett Educational Foundation based at the Elmer E. Rasmuson Conservation Center at the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Ranch, just east of the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex and near

Dupuyer, Montana Dupuyer () is a census-designated place and unincorporated community in Pondera County, Montana, United States. Its population was 86 as of the 2010 census. The community is located along U.S. Route 89 and Dupuyer Creek. Dupuyer has a post office ...

. The program began in 2005, and became affiliated with the Montana Council in 2009. Scout troops from any council may participate. *Camp Arcola *Grizzly Base Camp

Northern Lights Council

As of 2006, ''Northern Lights Council'' serves all of

North Dakota North Dakota () is a U.S. state in the Upper Midwest, named after the Native Americans in the United States, indigenous Dakota people, Dakota Sioux. North Dakota is bordered by the Canadian provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba to the north a ...

, and parts of

South Dakota South Dakota (; Sioux language, Sioux: , ) is a U.S. state in the West North Central states, North Central region of the United States. It is also part of the Great Plains. South Dakota is named after the Lakota people, Lakota and Dakota peo ...

, northwest

Minnesota Minnesota () is a state in the upper midwestern region of the United States. It is the 12th largest U.S. state in area and the 22nd most populous, with over 5.75 million residents. Minnesota is home to western prairies, now given over to ...

and northeast Montana.

Girl Scouting in Montana

Girl Scouts of Montana and Wyoming

Girl Scouts of Montana and Wyoming is the only council serving both Montana and Wyoming. It was formed on May 1, 2008, by the merger of Girl Scouts of Big Sky Council, Girl Scouts Treasure Trails Council, and Girl Scout Council of Wyoming. ;Headquarters:

Billings, Montana Billings is the largest city in the U.S. state of Montana, with a population of 117,116 as of the 2020 census. Located in the south-central portion of the state, it is the seat of Yellowstone County and the principal city of the Billings Metrop ...

;Website: ;Service Centers *

Great Falls, Montana Great Falls is the third most populous city in the U.S. state of Montana and the county seat of Cascade County. The population was 60,442 according to the 2020 census. The city covers an area of and is the principal city of the Great Falls, M ...

Casper, Wyoming Casper is a city in, and the county seat of, Natrona County, Wyoming, United States. Casper is the second-largest city in the state, with the population at 59,038 as of the 2020 census. Only Cheyenne, the state capital, is larger. Casper is nic ...

;Camps *Camp Castle Rock is just south of Butte, Montana *Camp Sacajawea is near Casper, Wyoming *Timbercrest Camp is on the west fork of Rock Creek in the

Beartooth Mountains The Beartooth Mountains are located in south central Montana and northwest Wyoming, U.S. and are part of the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness, within Custer, Gallatin and Shoshone National Forests. The Beartooths are the location of Granite Peak, ...

near Red Lodge, Montana *Camp Open Door is near Jackson, Wyoming *Camp Care Free is near Cheyenne, Wyoming

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Scouting In Montana Youth organizations based in Montana

Western Region (Boy Scouts of America)